Ericson 32-3 starboard 22 gal. water tank empties into bilge

[s/v First Light]

This year, for the first time, when I fill the starboard 22 gal. water tank it appears to accept the fill normally but a day later most of the water ends up in the bilge. I’ll now be searching for the leak. Any ideas as to where the leak might be occurring. It looks difficult to access the tank. The port 10 gal. water tank is functioning normally.

 

[Frank Langer]

The pipe connections would be my first check. Is it possible to see a water trail under the floor/ salon boards to indicate a possible source?
Frank

 

[s/v First Light]

The pipe connections would be my first check. Is it possible to see a water trail under the floor/ salon boards to indicate a possible source?
Frank

Thanks for your thought. I’ll start digging into it tomorrow. I also noticed that the potable water pump, when drawing from the starboard tank, is unable to reach shutoff pressure, as it used to, but when switched to drawing from the port tank, it shuts off normally after building pressure. Suggests that the pump is partially sucking air (aerated water) from the starboard tank which would follow if your thought of a failed and leaking pipe connection is the case. We’ll see. Thanks again.

 

[bigd14]

I had one of the female plastic fittings that was “welded” into the tank crack. I considered scrapping the tank but eventually just used some teflon tape and a hose clamp around the fitting to compress it in place around the nipple. That has worked for years.

 

[s/v First Light]

I had one of the female plastic fittings that was “welded” into the tank crack. I considered scrapping the tank but eventually just used some teflon tape and a hose clamp around the fitting to compress it in place around the nipple. That has worked for years.

Thanks. Still digging into it to see what I’ve got going on, leak-wise.